The Kahunas Tiki

We revisit Dec 30 when we visited tiki bars in the valley that we’ve never visited before. Intriguing to me due to their sushi offerings, we visited Kahuna Tiki and Kahuna Tiki Tu. Both are from the same team but there are significant differences in the restaurant type and cocktails.

Kahuna Tiki is in the NoHo Arts District not far from Tiki No and features a large outdoor space anchored by a very mature tree, water features, booth and gathering spaces, an outdoor bar, and a small indoor sushi bar with seating. It was cold so we ate inside the sushi bar. There are tiki nods throughout, though somewhat “tiki lite” in terms of density and quality. We loved our sushi and fried rice.

Kahuna Tiki Tu is a newer location connected to the Mikado Hotel and sandwiched by Riverside Drive and the 101 freeway. There’s a vast main dining area with Japanese touches, plus a large Moai to complement the “accent tikis” sprinkled throughout. There is a dark tiki bar off to the side, more traditionally decorated aside from the gigantic TV. There are few bar seats and some tables in the middle but we chose a bamboo booth. Food menu looked essentially similar to the sister location, though we were told some things are unique in each location. A patio overlooks the hotel pool and some decor elements borrow from Disney and other genres (yes. pirates).

Where the two Kahunas differ are the cocktails, since Kahuna Tiki has only a beer/wine license. As such they can’t use spirits but presumably more than enough of something to suit. I had the Majestic Mai Tai that was a fruit-forward refresher and Mrs. Mai Tai had the cherry-forward Stupid Cupid that uses a Red Vine as a straw. Both were fine, but things made more sense after we learned about their restrictions.

There are no such restrictions at Kahuna Tiku Tu, though their 1944 Mai Tai uses Planteray 5 and since they didn’t have an acceptable sub I went with it to some regret. Mrs. Mai Tai’s Headhunter Martini was a lot better, featuring vodka and banana/cinnamon notes that were really tasty.

Headhunter Martini

We enjoyed the visits including some easter eggs that Arnelle gave us at the first location before venturing to the second. We hear good things from locals that the service here is usually great, so if you like sushi these locations demand some tiki attention.

Kahuna Tiki

Kahuna Tiki Tu

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